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Turtle Trapper 



C E. Sprague 






Copyright 1919 

By 

C E. Sprague 



fin -2 1920 



RIVERSIDE PRINTING CO. 
PORT HURON, 



©CI.A561686 

W^ f 



Introduction 



nih.i5 book is written b}? a Turtle Trapper of 
fifteen years experience, in answer to many in- 
quiries regarding tnis outdoor vocation. 

It is a direct communication between tne Trap- 
per to tne novice. 

NJo attempt has been made at literary achiev- 
ment. 

niie directions given herein are the outcome 
of practical experience. 

Success on tne part of tne novice, nowever, will 
depend, to a great extent upon Kis own Integrity. 

Follow the directions carefully, work diligently 
and success is bound to follow. 

While this is good paying work, better perhaps 
than any other summer vocation, compared with 
the amount of money invested, the reward must 
not be measured in dollars and cents alone. 

Every day spent in the great out of doors at 
this work means independence, happiness and 
good health. 



ni\e Turtle Trapper 

By C. E. Sprague 
'The Snapping Turtle 

There are some forty different specie 
of Turtle inliabiting the waters of 
North America. Among tlie most 
common is the — Clielydra Serpintina 
— or Snapping Turtle. And inasmuch 
as this specie is the most valuable of 
our aquatic reptiles as a food product, 
from a commercial standpoint, this 
specie will be discussed throughout this 
book exclusiveh. 

The "Snapper" inhabits the greater 
part of our Eastern Hemisphere with- 
in the temperate zones. Up until re- 
cent 3Tars there has been little demand 
for their flesh as a food product. Re- 
cently, however, owing to the marked 
scarcity of the Diamond-back salt 
water terrapin, which by the way, is 
ver}^ closely related to the fresh water 
snapping turtle, there is an increasing 

Page One 



demand for their flesh as a food com- 
modity. 

The Diamond-back Terrapin has be- 
come so scarce of late years through 
persistent over fishing, that the Gov- 
ernment lias, tlirougli tlie Bureau of 
Fisheries, establislied experimental sta- 
tions in liopes of reviving this fast di- 
minishing specie. 

These experiments have been quite 
successful, but it isn't likely that the 
propagation of this reptile in captivity 
will effect the ever increasing demand 
for the Snapping Turtle in the market. 

The Snapping Turtle is found in 
most all rivei's, lakes, and even in small 
ditches, preferring the slow-running, 
weed-grown streams and lakes with 
muddy bottoms. 

Being exceedingly wary, they are, 
comparatively speaking, very seldom 
seen. 

Their food consists mostly of fish, 
frogs, young waterfowl and no doubt 
many full-gro\>'n waterfowl falls prey 
to this vicious reptile. 

The snapper is looked upon as a 
natural scavenger. This may apply to 



Page Two 



sonic of the other species of turtle l)iit 
not the snapper, views to tlie contrary 
notwitlistanding. The snapper Ivills 
most of Ills food and experiments sliow 
that he lias preference to fresh l)]oody 
meat, rattier tlian ])utri(i tlesh. 

In stallving tlieir prey tliey bury 
themselves in tlie mud on river or lal^e 
bottom in fisli runways among the 
weeds or lie under or close beside a 
sunken log, where they wait patiently, 
head drawn in, little beady eyes just 
clear of tlie mud, ever watcliing for fish 
to swim over or close to llieni. It is a 
luckless fish indeed tliat comes within 
a foot of his liead, a (|uick dart, a snap 
of tliose powerful jaws, and the fish is 
a helpless captive, to be quickh^ torn to 
pieces and eaten. 

The snapper has no teeth, but his 
jaws terminate in hooks, the upper 
hook extends over the lower one and 
when closed gnash by each other slight- 
ly enabling them to catch and hold 
even the smallest particle of food. 

If fishing proves dull he moves about 
looking for other prey, perhaps it 

Page Three 



might be a frog swimming leisurely out 
to his favorite lil}^ pad, or a flock of 
waterfowl feeding way back in the 
shallows he swims cautiously and de- 
liberately under his victim not break- 
ing the surface of the water until near 
enough to make the strike, then a quick 
dart, and another morsel is added to his 
fare. He grasps waterfowl by the leg 
pulls them under water to drown. 

The turtle locates his prey through 
scent. The scent is carried to him by 
the current of water, Just as the scent 
of game is carried to the hunting dog 
through the current of air, and as the 
dog always scents his game from up- 
wind, just so does the turtle scent his 
prey from up stream. 

They very seldom if ever seek their 
food out of water. In fact if they did 
so it would be necessary for them to 
drag it into the water to eat, as it is im- 
possible for the snapper to swallow 
their food, unless under water. 

The turtle is, of course, a hibernat- 
ing reptile, burying himself in mud, 
late in the fall, remaining in a dormant 
state until the warm days of spring, 

Page Four 



when he emerges from his winter sleep 
becoming more active as the weatlier 
becomes warmer. 

Tlierefore tlie trapper's liarvest be- 
gins about tlie time that real summer 
weather prevails, continuing until late 
summer. As the season advances to- 
ward the later part of summer the tur- 
tle becomes more and more inactive 
due to the fact that he is acquiring 
more fat each da3\ In fact in the 
warmer climates where the season is 
longer, and perhaps food is more plen- 
tiful, he becomes so fat and awkward, 
near the end of the season, that when 
out of water he is almost helpless, the 
flesh protruding beyond his shell caus- 
ing difficult}^ in the movement of his 
limbs. 

He cannot draw his head entirely 
within his shell as does the Box Turtle 
nor his tail, but when on the defensive 
folds his tail around the underedge of 
upper shell. The upper shell has a 
rough, ridged appearance with check- 

Page Five 



ered or diamond shaped markings, 
very rongh and notciiy aronnd rear 
edge. As the turtle grows older and 
larger the upper shell takes on a 
smoother appearance, dark olive in 
color and usually has a growth of moss 
on the back, a very effective camou- 
flage furnished by nature, for indeed 
they look very much like round, moss- 
grown stones lying on the river bottom. 

The lower shell or plaston does not 
extend as far over the body as the up- 
per shell and has a dull yellow color. 
The skin covering that part of body 
and head not covered by the shell has a 
rough, warty appearance, dark olive on 
the upper and dull yellow on the lower 
sides. 

The feet are broad and webbed, 
equipped with five claws. The front 
feet are used in holding and helping to 
tear to pieces the prey. 

In swimming the head and neck is 
extended and is used in conjunction 
with the tail in iiuidinc themselves 



j->' 



throuiih the water. The tail is nearly 



'!-) 



as long as the body, very thick at base, 

Fi-.gc Si.v 



tapering to a slcMidcr point, witti a row 
of spines aioni^ center ot" top. 

The male tnrtle may be determined 
by liis sliort, cliunlvy appearance, wliile 
tlie female more trim, longer, and con- 
secpiently more snple in action. 

In the early snmmer the female 
leaves the water in search of a snita])le 
place to deposit her eggs. She usually 
selects a sandy southern slope where 
the soil contains a certain degree of 
moisture. Instinct seems to help the 
mother turtle in selecting her nest well 
away from danger of freshet or over- 
flowing of the river and yet the soil 
must not become too dry. She digs a 
hole six or eight inches deep, backs in, 
and deposits the eggs, sixteen to twenty- 
four in number. I have been told that 
greater numbers have been found in a 
single nest, but I think in those cases 
more than one female used the same 
nest, the second one digging open the 
nest after the first one had left. After 
she has deposited her eggs she care- 
fully covers the nest, dragging her 
body over the loose dirt to hide any 

Page Sere)i 



appearance of digging, then leaves, 
never to return to look after her off- 
spring. Her responsibility has ended. 
The eggs are white, perfectly round, 
with a hard shell, and they are consid- 
ered edible by many people. The eggs 
left under these conditions, fall easy 
prey to many egg-eating birds and ani- 
mals such as crows, owls, skunks, rats, 
etc. The time required to hatch the 
eggs is eight or nine weeks, according 
to weather conditions. 

When the young turtle emerges from 
the shell and digs his way out of the 
sand, he is again subject to annihila- 
tion from those same enemies before 
mentioned. 

There are many interesting stories 
told about the young turtle. It has been 
said that when leaving the nest, they 
instinctively start straight toward the 
water, but if a log or any obstruction 
is encountered that stops his progress, 
he returns to the nest and makes an- 
other start, setting a course at a slight- 
ly different angle, repeating this until 
the water is reached, but never trying 
to find the way around the obstruction 
without first returning to the nest. I 

Page Eight 



cannot vonch for tliis story, liowever, 
although 1 have often watched the 
young turtles leaving the nest, but al- 
ways under more favorable conditions 
for them to reach water. 

The young turtle does not show 
much activity during the remainder of 
the first season but buries itself in the 
moss or weeds in the water. Scientists 
tell us that they take no nourishment 
whatever during the first season of 
their lives, but subsist on a deposit left 
in their stomachs, composed of the 
yolk of the egg from which they are 
hatched. During the second season, 
those that have withstood the ravages 
of winter, feed on w^ater insects, 3'Oung 
snails, a certain amount of vegetable 
matter, etc. There is no doubt that a 
ver}^ large per cent of them die during 
the first wdnter, especially in the north- 
ern climates. After they become two 
years old they have no natural enemies 
except man. Naturally the turtle lives 
to be very old and the older they are the 
more vicious and wary they become. 

Snapping turtles can live under 
water wdthout air ten to twelve hours, 
but no longer. 

Page Nine 



One Trap 

There are several different types of 
turtle traps in use, yet the fundamental 
principles are the same in all of them. 
I have used most of them and after 
fifteen years experience have con- 
cluded that the one herein described is 
the strongest, lightest and most prac- 
tical trap one could use and very easy 
to build. 

I knit my own traps as do many other 
trappers, but realizing that this would 
appear to most prospective trappers a 
tedious, tiresome undertaking, will not 
attempt to describe the method of knit- 
ting traps. There are several different 
advertisements appearing in different 
outdoor magazines where one can ob- 
tain instructions in tying nets. This, 
as I said before, might seem a difficult 
undertaking yet it is simple enough 
after getting started. 

For the benefit of the prospective 
trapper who would not care to knit his 

Page Ten 



own lra])s, I liave written to several 
mail order liouses, and I find that nets 
may be ordered in any desired lengtli 
and widtli in different sized mesh. 

These nets are listed in their cata- 
lognes as drag seins, but are equipped 
with floats and leads which would be 
superfluous in the manufacture of the 
turtle trap. Order from your nearest 
mail order house drag sein, seventy- 
five running feet by five foot width, 
one inch mesh, No. 16 soft twine. This 
amount will cost somewhere around 
ten doUars according to the market. It 
would be advisable to send ten dollars 
with order. If fluctuations of market 
have raised charges will accompany the 
goods on delivery for the deficiency, 
and if lowered the difference will be 
refunded. Be sure and mention in or- 
der that the net is wanted without 
floats or leads. A delay of about ten 
days must be expected on this order as 
it is special, for only complete nets are 
carried in stock. 

This amount of netting will make up 
fifteen traps wiiich is about the right 
number for one man to look after. 
Possibly one could tend a few more at 

Page Elex'en 



times but as a rule this number is all 
that one man can look after properly. 
Turtle traps could be made Avith mesh 
as large as three inches and still hold 
any turtle of marketable size, but in 
using the smaller mesh many small 
mud turtles and soft shells, and often 
fish of the dead-bait-eating variety 
such as mud cats and dogfish are 
caught and can be used for bait, where 
if caught in a larger mesh trap these 
would escape. 

The laws of some states prohibit the 
use of any device for taking turtles 
that will take fish. 

It is advisable to post yourself on the 
fish and game laws governing your 
state and if such a law prevails, order 
at least a four-inch mesh instead of the 
one-inch. A mesh of this size will not 
hold any ordinary fish that one would 
find in turtle waters. 

Also order two bunches of No. 11 
trot or set line cotton containing about 
three hundred feet in each bunch. This 
will cost somewhere around $3.75 to 
$4.00. This twine is about the size of 
the ordinary chalk line and usually 

Page Twelve 




o 

'J1 



may be obtained in any locality. This 
will be used for draw strings and for 
half-hitching the net on the hoops. 
Upon receiving net, measure off in five 
foot lengths and cut squarely across in 
center of mesh, take pains in relying 
all knots where cut is made as knots 
are liable to slip. These tied ends are 
to form the ends of the trap. 

In order to properly build these traps 
a form must be built first. This form 
can be used for building any number 
of traps and may be built of any scrap 
lumber. Illustration No. 1 shows form 
ready to set up. 

The form consists of two circular 
shapes or moulds approximately 18i^ 
inches in diameter. Take pieces of 
kimber about twenty inches long and a 
sufficient u umber of pieces laid side to 
side to make it about twenty inches 
wide, nail two strips across about one- 
third of way from each end, the illus- 
tration No. 1 will give you the idea, 
then take a carpenter's compass divid- 
ers and strike a circle of the above 
mentioned diameter. If you haven't 

Page Fotirtcen 



the dividers take a lath, cut a notch in 
one end, measure off nine and one- 
fourth inches from apex of notch, 
drive a small nail through lath and 
start it into about center of where cir- 
cle is to be cut, hold pencil in notch and 
draw circle, this will answer as well 
as carpenter's dividers. 

Cut out form with compass saw and 
repeat operations for the other form. 
Now take eight pieces of Ys ii^ch strips, 
two inches wide and three feet long, 
and nail to edges of circular form, 
bringing the ends of strips just even 
with outside surface of end forms. 
Illustration No. 2 will give the idea how 
strips should be spaced. 

Now the form is ready for the hoops. 
There are four hoops used in each trap. 
These should be made of galvanized 
bail wire. This wire is such that is used 
for bails on metal pails. But if this 
wire cannot be secured, common No. 9 
galvanized fence wire may be used by 
twisting two strands together. Wooden 
hoops are often used and if good 
straight grained tough wood such as 

Page Sixteen 



elm, ash, or hickory they will do very 
well but of course are bulkier than the 
wire. Use wire hoops if possible as 
they are lighter and take up less space 
when outlit is packed which is quite 
important as all campers and trappers 
know. If wire hoops are used, bend 
wire around form, lap the ends about 
three inches, holding with clamp and 
solder. Illustration No. 2 shows wire 
hoops in place and method of soldering 
( Illustration No. 2) . If wooden hoops 
are used they may be fastened with 
small nails or wrapped with string 
notching the wood where it laps over 
to prevent slipping. Do not make hoops 
too tight on form, but leave them loose 
enough to be slipped over form easily. 
If wooden hoops are used shave them 
out about 1/4 inch thick and % to one 
inch wide. 

After hoops are made, place one at 
each end of form and the other two a 
foot from each end. Now take a five- 
foot piece of the net and lay over the 
form and hoops, with knotted ends 
over the ends of form, tieing the ends 
of net together lengthwise of form, 
mesh to mesh until entire length is tied. 

Page Eighteen 




o 
.2 




d 
.2 



Illustration No. 3 shows about the de- 
sired proportions to project over the 
ends of form. 

After net is tied together lengthwise, 
run a draw string through the end 
appearing at left of illustration No. 3, 
put string in one mesh and out the next, 
continuing clear around the entire 
end, leave string long enough that net 
may be opened the full size of form 
and tie ends of draw string together. 
This is the rear end of trap giving 
access to bait hook, and for removing 
the catch. 

Now draw net straight on form to- 
ward the opposite or forward end until 
it hangs even all around and half-hitch 
net on the hoops as shown in illustra- 
tion No. 5. 

Pass twine through net, where it 
crosses hoop, under hoop, back 
through net and run twine through 
loop thus formed making a half-hitch. 
Make a half-hitch every inch or so all 
around each hoop. This will hold 
hoops in place. 

Now w^e come to the mouth, or busi- 
ness end of trap. Run a draw-string 
through the mouth end of net the same 

Page Twenty-two 




(Illustration No. 7) 






-'■^i»J#5- 






CO 




o 



as you did the rear end, draw this up 
until there is an opening aljout four- 
teen inches across when the edges are 
togetlier, leave this string a little longer 
for adjustment if found necessary. 
Illustration No. 6 will give the idea. 

Now take two pieces of twine each 
about five feet long and double each 
piece, slip loop at opposite points 
through net and draw string. Illustra- 
tion No. 6 also shows how these should 
be placed. These are stay strings to 
hold the mouth of trap in place. Trap 
may now be removed from form. 

The next step will be to place the side 
sticks on outside of trap. Take two 
pieces of lath or any small sticks, I use 
green saplings as they are tougher and 
heavier, these should be slightly long- 
er than the trap between the end hoops, 
cut notches near ends as shown in illus- 
tration No. 8 and tie to end hoops at 
points even with stay strings. 

The trap must be drawn taut on 
these side sticks otherwise it will lop 
this w^ay and that, but if drawn taut 
will be rigid and finii. 

The mouth end may now be turned 
inside of trap, passing the ends of stay 

Page Twenty-six 



strings out througli the opposite sides 
of trap just aliead of third hoop from 
mouth end and tie to the rear hoop of 
trap, drawing taut. Illustration No. 9 
shows the size the opening should be 
at mouth of trap; this may be arranged 
by adjusting draw string. Now take a 
piece of twine and tie to top of third 
hoop from mouth end and let hang 
down and tie to bottom of same hoop, 
fastening a wire hook on this string 
directly in line with mouth of trap for 
bait hook. Some trappers use a tin can 
with half inch holes punched here and 
there to put their bait in, instead of a 
hook. This is a very good idea as the 
first turtle entering the trap cannot tear 
bait loose causing it to fall to bottom of 
trap thereby ending the catch until 
fresh bait is again placed on the hook. 
Now the trap is complete and ready to 
use as shown in illustration No. 10. 

Illustration No. 11 shows trap in 
knockdown, note the small amount of 
space taken up where wire hoops are 
used. A set of fifteen of these traps 
takes up very little room and may be 
packed in an ordinary sack. 



PcHic 'f'vciity-cii/ht 




o 



Outfitting 

The outfit used by the turtle trapper 
may be as elaborate or as simple as will 
suit the personal desires. Outside of 
the traps the most essential thing will 
be a good boat. A light, flat bottom, 
double end skiff such as fur trappers 
use would be a good selection. A boat 
that is stead}^ as often it is necessary 
to haul a catch of one hundred pounds 
or more over side and yet one should 
paddled or poled through weeds, drawn 
have a boat that is light enough to be 
over logs, or even make short portages 
with, as often small ponds adjacent to 
river or lake will be found good trap- 
ping and some means must be had in 
reaching them. As traps are some times 
set in four to six feet of water a hook 
is handy to raise and lower traps. This 
hook is similar to a gaff hook only the 
iron is heavier and opening should be 
about two inches across between point 
of hook and shank, and set in a handle 

Page Tliirty 



like a broomstick or a lit lie larger. This 
hook will be handy to use as a boat 
hook and handling turtles, as well as 
handling traps. Also include in outfit 
a goodly assortment of nails, hammer, 
and saw for nailing together a box in 
which to keep the turtles until a ship- 
ment is made. This box can be made 
of drift boards, poles or any material 
that may be picked up along the river. 
This box should be partly submerged 
in the water as turtles will not do very 
well when penned up on dry land. A 
box, say ten feet long, four feet wide 
and a foot deep is large enough to store 
a half a ton of turtles and they will 
keep very nicely for a week or ten days. 
Turtles should be fed each day when 
waiting shipment. 

Among other things quite important 
in making up the outfit will be a small 
caliber rifle or a shot gun for securing 
bait which will be mentioned in a later 
chapter, also camp axe for cutting 

Page Thirty-one 



fire wood, side stays, trap stakes, bait, 
and other uses too numerous to men- 
tion. 

As traps must be lifted every twelve 
hours, the trapper must provide some 
means of staying in close touch with 
his trap line. An ordinary camping 
outfit will solve this problem, and while 
unnecessary things should be dis- 
pensed with one should take along 
enough to insure himself at least per- 
sonal comfort. 

Most farmers and property owners 
will welcome the turtle trapper, but it 
is best to always look up the owner of 
property on which camp is to be made 
and get his permission before tres- 
passing. 

On large streams, with tributaries 
that would insure several seasons trap- 
ping, I would not hesitate in recom- 
mending a small houseboat. The dif- 
ference in the cost of tent and a small 
houseboat would soon be made up in 

Page Thirty-iwo 



comfort. A liouseboat may be easily 
towed from place to place, and when a 
suitable place is selected for a stay, 
drop the anchor or tie up to bank and 
camp is all built, just as much so as 
though you had been there a week. 
Screens may be htted to doors and win- 
dows, an awning swung over the deck 
end, bunks built inside, in fact fitted 
up just to suit personal taste. A person 
who has never spent a summer on a 
houseboat has certainly missed some- 
thing. There is no better mode of 
camping. Often a houseboat already 
built may be purchased very reason- 
able, or perhai)s a scow may be bought 
very cheap and a cabin built on the 
deck to suit one's own taste. It is not 
only a matter of comfort that the 
houseboat is the most desirable but 
often there are miles and miles of 
swamp and marsh where it would be 
impossible to pitch a tent and yet would 
be the finest kind of turtle grounds. I 
cannot say too much in favor of the 
houseboat. For those who intend to 

Page Thirty-four 



trap small streams, lakes and mill 
ponds a light wagon with cabin built on 
would make a good outht. A light steel 
boat or one of the folding variety could 
be lashed along side of the cabin in 
moving from place to place. This would 
not necessarily mean that the trapper 
would have to own a horse, as some 
obliging farmer could be hired to move 
outfit to the next camping spot. These 
moves could be arranged for some 
evening or odd time that would not 
take a man from his regular work. Or 
perhaps the j)rospective trapper owns 
an auto of some kind. He could very 
easily rig up a camp-trailer similar to 
the ones that are advertised in all out- 
door magazines. Bedding, stove, 
dishes, etc., are all folded in the trailer 
in a very compact manner and when 
set up for use the bottom of trailer box 
forms the tent tloor, keeping the occu- 
pants up otT the ground high and dry. 
While the auto could be used to a good 
advantage in hauling the catch to mar- 
ket, bringing in supplies, prospecting 

Page Tliirty-five 



for new grounds, etc., and in moving 
the boat could be lashed on top of trail- 
er. This would make a splendid outfit 
for spot trapping. 

Of course the auto outfit, and the 
houseboat involve a considerable out- 
lay of money, but I mention these as a 
suggestion to the prospective trapper 
because both are practical outfits in- 
suring independence to the trapper. I 
have spent several seasons trapping 
with just an ordinary camping outfit 
consisting of a small sleeping tent, 
sheet iron stove, folding cot, etc., and a 
small skiff, in fact so small that when 
my outfit was packed aboard there was 
just room for me to stand in stern of 
boat to pole to the next camping spot. 
And while these were prosperous sea- 
sons I have learned since that consider- 
able time is lost, that would be saved 
with either of the above named outfits. 
The last few seasons I have been using 
a small gasoline cabin boat, which is 
very practical. 

Page Thirty-six 



Baits 

As I stated in tlie first cliapter of tliis 
boolv tliat the turtle's food comprises 
mostly of fisli, it is natural that fish 
would make good bait, but such bait is 
often hard to prociu-e. The small mesh 
traps will catch more or less of the 
dead-bait-eating fish such as dogfish, 
catfish and mud-cats. A good sized 
dogfish, say one that would WTigh four 
to six pounds would make enough bait 
for three or four traps. Simply cut 
them crosswise in three or four pieces 
according to size and placcin bait can. 
If such fish are nof caught the trapper 
must get busy with his bait-gun. There 
are usually plenty of blackbirds, crows, 
hawks, owds, or perhaps woodchucks 
in most localities and any of these will 
make excellent bait. I sometimes think 
that the above mentioned birds and 
animals make better bait than the fish 
as I think the scent carries further than 
the fish owing to the greater amount 
of blood. A nice fat woodchuck would 
make eight or ten baits if cut up in that 
many pieces, using entrails as well as 

Page Thirty-ci(jht 



tlie flesh. If the trapper is located near 
a slaughter house, plenty of fresh 
bloody meat can be secured. Always 
use fresh bait. Bait the traps night 
and morning. It is advocated by some 
that turtles do not feed during the day- 
time, but if fresh bait is used it will be 
found that the day catch will nearly 
equal the night catch. 

Small land turtles and leather backs 
make fairly good bait; cut off the head 
with camp axe or hatchet and quarter. 
This bait is always at hand as they are 
attracted to the traps as well as the 
snapping turtle. Always keep a supply 
of these on hand, alive, to be used when 
other bait cannot be had. 



Page Forty 



How and WKere to Set Traps 

For convenience sake traps are usu- 
ally carried in the knockdown, that is 
the side sticks are removed. On reach- 
ing the desired trapping ground the 
trapper proceeds to set up his traps. I 
always set up my traps before starting 
out to place them, although they may 
be set up on the line as required. Load 
as many traps in boat as is convenient 
and start along close to shore. Keep 
sharp lookout for channels in weeds 
or lily pads or any place that looks like 
possible fish runways. These are the 
hangouts of the turtle. Bait trap, and 
lower to bottom of river or lake as the 
case may be; if in river always face the 
mouth of trap down stream. This is 
very important, a trap placed in any 
other position is just a waste of time. 
The turtle will come to trap from the 
down stream direction, the scent of the 
bait being carried to him by the current 
and he follows the scent through the 
water to the trap. The result of a trap 
being placed in any other position is 
obvious. The turtle would find a wall 

Page Forty-two 



of net between him and the bait and 
they positively will not enter trap on 
the up-stream side of bait, as when they 
get on the upstream side there is no 
scent to attract them in. 

Turtles are not hard to catch, on the 
contrary they are very easy, it is just a 
matter of judgment in placing the 
traps. In trapping a lake use your own 
judgment in placing traps. For in- 
stance, trap should be placed in weeds 
facing open water or if near inlet or 
outlet of lake, there will be a current, 
however slight, it is a current just the 
same and traps must be placed accord- 
ingly. After trap is placed on bottom, 
take a pole of sufficient length to reach 
bottom with three or four feet to spare 
and shove between side stick and trap 
into the mud bottom firmly. This an- 
swers a double purpose, viz: marking 
location of trap and also to keep trap 
from rolling. A turtle when caught 
will, sooner or later, want to come up 
for air and will naturally start climbing 
up side of trap. If pole is not used the 
trap of course will start rolling like a 

Page Forty-four 




"Making a Set" 



squirrel's wheel, ending up no know- 
ing where. Never pass up an old drift 
pile or log jam in river or a fallen tree. 
These are natural haunts for the turtle, 
and a trap properly placed above these 
places will insure a good catch. 

Arrange to have camp as centrally 
located on the line as possible for con- 
venience sake. Watch your traps close- 
ly, if a trap is not productive, take it 
up and move it to another location. A 
set should not be condemned, however, 
if a catch is not made the first day. Let 
trap stand twenty-four to thirty-six 
hours before passing judgment on the 
set. 

The locality within reach of camp 
should pay commercially for a week or 
ten days. When the catch begins to 
drop off it is time to move. Do not 
spend time working a caught-out 
"spot." Make every day count, prac- 
tice efficiency. It pays in every line of 
work. Turtle trapping is no exception. 
Mill ponds are usually very good trap- 
ping grounds. The rising and falling 
of the water does not necessarily 

Puyc Forty-six 



hamper the turtle trapper as it does the 
fur trapper, as traps set in four to six 
feet of water will stand a rise or fall of 
two feet without retarding the catch. 
Lakes large and small are more or less 
productive in all localities. Do not 
waste time trying out swift, clear 
streams with rocky and gravely bot- 
toms; always select warm, slow run- 
ning streams, muddy bottom with 
plentj^ of aquatic vegetation. 



Page Forty-ciyht 




Making a tiet Hesidc the Hall Sunken Log 



ni\e Markets 

Eastern cities have always been 
active tnrtle markets with Philadelpliia 
in the lead and New York a close sec- 
ond. Commission men are located at 
these points handling both sea turtles 
and snappers. Hundreds of tons of 
turtles are handled in these cities each 
year, involving greater business and 
capital than the average person could 
imagine. 

Turtles shipped to a reliable commis- 
sion man will be handled in a prompt 
business-like manner, and it is but a 
matter of days until a check will be re- 
ceived by the shipper, also an itemized 
account of w^eight, express charges, 
commission, dead turtles (if any) and 
balance due to shipper. 

I will not hesitate in recommending 
as reliable commission men — M. J. 
Ryan, Front and Dock Sts., Philadel- 
phia, Pa. His advertisement appears 
in the Hunter, Trader and Trapper as 
well as some other outdoor magazines. 

Page Fifty 



Also Clark Stiles & Co., 14 Dock St. 
fish market, Philadelphia, Pa. I have 
shipped to these men more or less for 
years and 1 know they are relial)le 
dealers. 

It is not always advisable, however, 
to ship to commission men. Perhaps 
there is a better market closer by. In 
saying this 1 do not mean any more re- 
liable, bnt perhaps a better price may 
be had for yonr tnrtles. For instance, 
if the trapper is located in or near a 
summer resort region he will experi- 
ence no difiiculty in disposing of his 
catches as fast as the traps are run. 
Arrange to see the stewards of the 
resort hotels, they will usually be glad 
to take more or less according to the 
number of guests he has to feed once 
or twice a week. Good customers will 
be found among the cottagers and 
campers as well; once let it become 
known that you are in the business, 
and you will be hailed from every 
quarter. First class hotels and res- 
taurants are also good customers in the 

Page Fifty-one 



larger cities. More or less may be sold 
right at camp to passing fishermen and 
trampers. Turtles sold in this way 
usually bring about twice as much as 
will be received from commission men. 

The price of turtles on the eastern 
markets fluctuates from around six 
cents to twelve cents per pound, live 
weight. I have never sold for less than 
ten cents per pound, locally, and the 
last few years have received fifteen 
cents per pound for every pound 
caught, and the demand always ex- 
ceeded the supply. 

I have noticed, with more than pass- 
ing interest that some trappers arrange 
to winter part of their summer's catch. 
I haven't the least doubt that this would 
pay, providing one had a suitable place 
for doing so, like an unused basement, 
an old cellar or in fact any place that 
Vvould not freeze too hard. Turtles 
l)ring a fancy price in late winter and 
early spring, often as high as twenty- 
five or thirty cents per pound. I under- 
stand all that is necessary is to put them 
in damp loose earth, enough for them 
to bury themselves in. No feeding or 
attention is re([uired. 

Page Fifty-two 



How to Snip 

If the trapper wishes to ship his 
cateh to commission men, or any dis- 
tance by rail, it is necessary to pnt them 
in boxes or barrels. I won Id recom- 
mend boxes rattier tlian ])arrels, shal- 
low boxes, say, al)out two or two and a 
half feet long, eighteen or twenty-fonr 
inches wide and six or eight inches 
deep. A discarded soap box or a shoe 
case will do very nicely. If there is any 
doubt as to whether it is strong enough 
to stand the strain, it would be well to 
strengthen it by putting a strap iron or 
a baling wire aroimd each end of box, 
nailing or stapling it securely into the 
end boards of the box, this will double 
the strength of the box. The box 
should by all means have a number of 
holes cut or bored here and there for 
ventilation, but must be small enough 
to prevent the turtles from getting 
their heads through. 

Turtles shipped in barrels do not 
stand the shipment as well as those 
shipped in boxes, as the bottom layers 
have too much weight bearing on them. 

Page Fifly-thrcc 



and with the jolt and jar of the express 
car the loss would run heavy on extra 
long distance. 

I think it pays to put a light layer of 
water weeds well soaked, and give the 
boxes a good soaking with water just 
before shipping. True, it may add a 
few pounds to the express charges but 
the condition of the turtles on the 
arrival at destination will more than 
make that up. 

A few years ago most of us trappers 
shipped our catch in heavy burlap 
sacks, tieing a short stick in a heavy 
piece of twine at each end of sack for a 
handle. The losses ran heav^^ in this 
kind of shipping, due to rough hand- 
ling, no doubt. Boxes and shipping 
cases tipping over on them, thrown to 
and from the car at transfer points like 
so many bags of castings. The express 
companies will not accept turtles in 
bags any more for some reason. Per- 
haps some employee was serious- 
ly bitten, or perhaps on account of 
numerous claims presented for loss of 
turtles. At any rate it is a good thing 
for the shipper that they cannot be 
shipped in bags. Turtles should remain 

Page Fifty-four 



in the large storage box, where they will 
be more in their nalnral element until 
just before shipment is made. Don't 
pack them in small boxes and let them 
lay around a day or two before ship- 
ping. It is not necessary to pay express 
charges in advance. Simply tag the 
boxes and turn them over to the local 
express oflice. The commission man 
will pay express charges and deduct the 
amount from the remittance to you. 

Never handle turtles roughly, even 
though they are protected with a shell; 
always handle them carefully, they will 
reach their destination in a much better 
condition. 



Page Fifty-five 




A Pair of Medium "Snappers" 



Ho^v I Made $25.00 Per Day For 

Twenty-Five Days in tne 
MontK of MarcK 

Wliilc this incident, wliicli I am 
about to relate lias no real bearing on 
turtle trapping, yet it proved to be the 
most prosperous haul I ever experi- 
enced in handling turtles. Similar cir- 
cumstances might arise in any locality, 
during any winter or spring. At any 
rate I don't think it would be out of 
place to mention it here. 

It was the break-up of the mildest 
winter in the history of the state. Com- 
mission men in eastern cities were 
busy mailing quotations on turtles at 
fancy prices to turtle trappers through- 
out the country. Turtle trappers 
throughout the country were kicking 
themselves for not having a shipment 
of wintered turtles on hand; for it was 
the lirst of March and chances for get- 
ting turtles at that time of year is 
mighty slim in Michigan. 

I was trapping for muskrats at that 
time, along a small stream located in 
the central part of the state. Just a 

Page Fifly-se7'cn 



lazy little stream it was, in fact so lazy 
that it didn't perform the functions 
that it was supposed to of properly 
draining the surrounding country. I 
had looked upon tliis stream for some 
time as being an ideal turtle ground, 
but during the summer months it was 
impossible to get near it on account of 
quick sand and mire. Neither was it 
possible to use a boat for miles and 
miles on account of Inrush, weeds and 
shallow water. Indeed, even in winter, 
one had to use the utmost care in walk- 
ing along the banks, a mis-step or a 
slip, and no one knows how far one 
would sink into that oozy slime. So in 
summer the turtles, frogs, and water 
snakes had this little stream all to them- 
selves. But the progressive farmers in 
this community saw the possibility of 
reclaiming a good many acres of valu- 
able land if this stream was properly 
dredged. 

The huge dredge had been unloaded 
from flat cars on the bank of this 
stream where the railroad crossed it 
and the men were setting it up as I re- 
turned from visiting my traps one day, 

Page Fifty-eight 



for the dredge had been shipped in tlie 
knock-down. It seemed like an enor- 
mous undertaking to me and I paused 
each day as I passed to watch the men 
put it together. At last the huge ma- 
chine was ready and started widening 
and straightening the stream. The 
houseboat in which the dredge men ate 
and slept was towed along behind as 
well as a large scow which was used for 
towing coal to the dredge. They moved 
along at a remarkable pace, and every 
day I had to pull up traps that were in 
the path of the dredge. I think it was 
the fourth of March that I paused on 
my way home to watch the operations a 
few moments, w^hen as the big dipper 
swung over the bank to dump its load 
of mud, I saw a large snapper roll down 
the bank. Now Mr. Snapper had gone 
to bed there the previous fall, fully ex- 
pecting to sleep there until the warm 
days of April or May. He didn't figure 
that a great machine would come down 
and rout him out of his winter bed, or 
probably he would have chosen some 
other spot and if he had I would not 
have discovered my little gold mine. 
Well I picked up Mr. Turtle who 

Page Fifty-niitc 



appeared to be dead but wixs only in a 
dormant state and waited to see if any 
more would roll down the bank. Sure 
enough another large one came over 
in the next dipperful of mud. Then 
the circular that I had received from 
the commission man loomed up in my 
mind with the fancy prices and I real- 
ized that it would not take many turtles 
to make a big day's pay. 

I went over and asked the foreman 
of the outfit if he had any objections 
if I watched the dumps for turtles. He 
assured me that he had no objections 
whatever, only cautioned me not to get 
too close to the dipper as I might get 
buried in the mud. "It's all right son, 
but don't get under the dipper if she 
dumps a load on you 'twould take a 
half a day to dig you out." 

That night 1 got the little boat out of 
the shed and put it on the boat cart for 
I could now use a boat in the channel 
that had been dredged and the next 
morning 1 was on the job bright and 
early. It was rather dull at times 
watching the dumps with no turtles 

Page Sixty 



sliowiiig and then ai'ain l)iisiness 
would brighten up and I would get sev- 
eral, sometimes two and three at a 
dump. Turtles usually go into their 
winter beds close together. 

It was dirty work standing there in 
the oozy mud and a cold north wind 
coming down across the marsh but I 
realized that I was making good money 
and that encouraged me to stay on the 
job. When the dredge crew stopped 
for dinner I stopped too and had a 
lunch and wiien they started again I 
was on the job with them, pulling a big 
fellow out of the mud here and perhaps 
a smaller one there and j)utting them 
in burlap sacks to be gathered up later 
when it began to grow dark and the 
crew stopped work for the night. 

When I gathered up my sacks im- 
agine my surprise when I found I had 
four heavy sacks of turtles. I weighed 
them later and they weighed two hun- 
dred and twenty-three pounds, and 
when the express train left that village 
that night, Mr. Commission Man had 
$')(). IT) worth of turtles coming his 
way. I felt so good over my find that I 

Page Sixty-one 



wanted to tell about it, but I realized 
the results, so I didn't breathe it to a 
soul. 

The next morning I was on the job 
again with a pair of good hip boots, an 
extra pair of woolen socks and plenty 
of warm clothes on, for it was tedious 
work standing there all day with very 
little exercise. I was very careful too, 
not to let any one see the amount of 
turtles I was getting but kept them 
gathered up and in the boat out of 
sight. 

"How many are you getting today, 
son?" the foreman called to me that 
afternoon. "Oh, enough for a dinner, 
I guess," was my answer. "Well you've 
more nerve than I have to stand out 
there all day for a measly old turtle or 
two." It never occurred to him that I 
was shipping them, and making better 
wages than any man on the dredge. 
Each night at dusk I would take my 
cargo of turtles up the big ditch, wash 
them clean, sack them and take them 
home on the boat cart. It seemed 
strange to me to handle turtles in their 
dormant state, it was like handling 
dead turtles. When I arrived home 

Puge Si.Yty-tivo 



with tliem I would box tliem up in soap 
boxes or any box about tbat size and 
take them down to the express office to 
go out on the night express train. Tlien 
I would gather all the boxes I could ob- 
tain at the different stores for my next 
night's shipment. After a while the 
supply became exhausted and I had to 
make my own boxes. Some days my 
shipment would run as high as tw^o 
hundred and fifty pounds and then 
again I would only have fifty or seven- 
ty-five pounds to ship, but I shipped my 
catch every night as I was afraid that 
the price would lower. 

And so went the three weeks and 
four days that I spent following the 
dredge. I received twenty-five cents 
per pound for all that I found. The 
weather was now getting warmer and 
the turtles were showing some signs of 
life and probably in a few days if the 
warm weather continued they would 
begin to move around on their own 
accord. On the fourth day of the 
fourth week that I followed the dredge 
a large bevel gear broke and would 
cause several days delay to the work. 
By the time a new one was cast and in 

Page Sixty-three 



place the weather had become quite 
warm and I watched the dumps from 
my boat as tlie frost had entirely left 
the ground and it was impossible to get 
out on the bank, but not a turtle 
showed. They had come back from 
their winter's sleep and were slipping 
away from the big phuiging dipper a 
httle slow and logic yet, perhaps, but 
with all of their faculties that makes 
them so wary, I realized that my job 
was done. I had shipped nearly a ton 
and a half of turtles and after the ex- 
press charges were paid I had a net 
profit of six hundred and twenty-five 
dollars for twenty-five davs work. 



Page Sixty-four 




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